DW SUBDIVISION

Chapter 5

"Much like your home of Ketty's Subdivision, we Marangetti like out entertainment. Since your incarceration, you are by far the most popular figure, though we don't keep ratings or statistics."

"So I could run for president?"

"If we had a political machine, you would be a shoe in. My wife would be your biggest supporter."

"The darling of DW Subdivision," she said.

"It's no small accomplishment to be loved by two star systems."

She pulled on a leather vest which still left her midriff exposed and looked in a mirror.

She used to be young and attractive. Now at twenty one, she felt old but the person staring back at her was anything but that.

"Perhaps I could attract a vampire," she said half joking. She had become a half-breed Marangetti by genetic osmosis, but she felt like it might be time to break out of jail and go home.

"We all have our secrets, but you have intrinsic beauty which makes you desirable," his eyes sparkled.

Pon-shea had other secrets, just as the Marangetti had knowledge it would never divulge. From ultimate popularity to banished obscurity was a burden she could endure, but the loss of Jet was too much. She had never known him in that way, or anyone for that matter, and the thought of dying without learning where wind came from was unbearable.

She went over to Tammar and pulled him aside. He was blocking the utility closet and she got right in his face.

"Thank your wife for the clothes."

"You look like a citizen now, a true Marangetti," he tried to change the subject.

"They're not quite my style but I feel a change is coming." She was growing impatient and she felt something stirring inside. Not spiritual or telepathic, it was new.

She ripped the door open, blaster in hand, and the skinniest, ungainly bot fell out onto the floor. She was fighting a tangle of hoses and broom handles with her foot stuck in the top of an abandon cleaning bot.

"Sorry master Tammar," she had her head down in shame. There were strange markings on her back where her skin was exposed and Pon-shea was caught off guard.

The not was wearing a skin tight white leotard stitched up each side with laces. Her spandex pants formed tightly over her scrawny body with gold accents and a zipper around her waist. Her skin was white as well and seemed to match the fabric.

Bots were fully mature when they were made and Pon-shea estimated her age to be seventeen but she had the body of a twelve year old. Skinny, rail straight legs, no butt or hips and adolescent breasts. She had golden articulating joints at her hips and shoulders, but they were external to her body, placed there for aesthetic purposes. That's when Pon-shea bent down and inspected where the leotard was cut low in the back. Her skin was perfectly white and had a lifelike texture. In fact, every aspect of Artificial Intelligence was designed to mimic human behavior and appearance. Pon-shea touched her back and it was warm and soft, but the texture was abraded.

"Shouldn't this have been repaired?"

"She's defective and heading for scrap."

"What happened?" Pon-shea turned to Tammar who had moved to the other side of the room. "You did this." She could read people and he was guilty.

"She has a character defect, despite all my efforts, she can't be repaired." Pon-shea's eye's cut his with the power of death. Tammar had seemed tough when they had first met but he didn't seem so formidable now.

"She's been abused," stated Pon-shea.

"I swear it was part of her training. She can't get over her shyness, always apologizing and making excuses. It gets annoying and I was trying to train her. I'll scrap her right now," he moved towards the bot.

"Stay back, what's its name?"

"Ki, my name is Ki and I am a female bot designed to the highest standards. I am perfect in form and function and would tell my master he is wrong except it would conflict with the First Law of Robotics. 'A robot shall not allow a human to come to harm.' It would tarnish my sympathy protocols to tell you he is lying." She turned and looked up at Pon-shea, "Please accept my apology for forcing you to call me it."

"That's ok," said Pon-shea, feeling the tug again.

"There is no logical reason for you to call me 'it' unless you are offended."

"I said it's fine." The girl cringed at her tone and pulled her knees up into her chest, rocking back and forth.

"I'm so sorry, I seem to have hurt your feelings." Pon-shea was getting annoyed already, the incessant apologies and nasally voice were enough to drive her mad.

"See, her emotional protocol conflicts with the First Law every time a person talks. She's worthless."

"Ki, come stand in front of me," Pon-shea ordered.

"She's not programmed to respond to anyone but me," said Tammar. The girl stood and walked to Pon-shea

"Someone hurt you, didn't they?"

Ki stood in front of her looking down at the ground and fidgeting with her thin arms behind her back. She nodded her head up and down, unable to make eye contact. Tammar was speechless.

"Why is she so damn shy?" asked Pon-shea. This is not what she had imagined and she regretted coming here already.

"None of that matters, she's worthless."

"Quit tearing her down," screamed Pon-shea. Her anger flared up and Tammar flinched at her wrath. He wasn't so smug now that he experienced her true power.

"The rules are, she's scheduled to be scrapped."

Pon-shea lifted Ki's chin and looked in the bot's eyes. They were the faintest blue with red, orange, and gold flecks mixed in. Pure, unadulterated innocence. Her straight black hair fell just below her shoulders, upturned nose and heavy eyebrows. She had black lipstick tattooed permanently across her mouth and a rounded face with flat cheekbones.

Pon-shea realized they were her own eyes not too long ago. "I'll train her myself," Pon-shea took the girl's hand and led her towards the door.

"It's not in the contract," whined Tammar. Pon-shea stopped and lashed out, sending the man reeling across the room. His body slammed against the wall, and he slumped to the floor.

"Try and stop me."